Check-bit



(No Model.&

' E. B. REYNOLDS.

GHBGK BIT.

No. 558,742. Patented Apr. 21, 18196.

FIG-.1.

FIG. '2

lnventar.

E TATES ATENT OFFICE.

EDMUND B. REYNOLDS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

CHECK-BIT.

$PECIFIOATION' forming part of Letters ZPatent No. 558,742, dated April 21, 1896.

Application ma November 16,1895. Serial 1%. 569,149. (No nodal.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDMUND B. REYNOLDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Check Bits; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, reference being had to the annexed drawin gs,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to those bridle attachments commonly known as check-bits and the first part of my improvements consists in making such devices of a single piece of Wire or light red and so shaping them as not to affect a horses mouth when his head is properly elevated, but considerable upward pressure will be exerted against the roof of the animals mouth the instant his head is lowered so far as to interfere with his breathing, as hereinafter more fully described.

The second part of my improvements consists in making certain end pieces or levers of such bits telescopic, so as to be lengthened or shortened, for the purpose of impartingmore or less swing to the centralportion or loop that acts against the roof of the horses mouth, as hereinafter more fully described.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved check-bit. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section through one of the telescopic end pieces or levers of the same.

A A represent two similar parts of a mouthpiece, which is usually straight and has at its ends vertical levers B B, screw-threaded at G O to admit the ready engagement of tubular extensions D D, the latter being provided at top with eyes or rings E E for'the attachment of an overdraw-strap. F F are jam-nuts that retain said extensions in place after they have been adjusted either up or down, as circumstances may suggest.

G G are side bars of a loop, which bars project forwardly from the center of the mouthpiece A A and about at right angles thereto. These bars are joined in front by a bend H, it being understood that said bend, together .with the side bars G G, mouthpieces A A,

and levers B B, are all made of a single piece of light rod or wire, smoothly finished and preferably plated with nickel.

My attachment is to be used in connection with an ordinary bit; but as it is usually made of steel wire very little extra weight is added to the bridle, and the loop G G H, being a mere skeleton, does not injure or inconvenience the horse. Furthermore, said attachment operates the same as all cheek-bits-that is to say, as long as the horse holds his head high enough to breathe freely the loop G G H is inert, but the very instant his head drops too far the overdraw-strap pulls on the levers B B and swings the front end H of said loop up against the roof of the animals mouth. Consequently the horse is at once compelled to raise his head as a means of relieving his mouth from the disagreeable upward pressure of the loop. In many cases the overdrawstrap cannot be adjusted with sufficient exactness to produce the proper upward swing of the loop; but by simply raising or lowering the extensions D D the levers B B will be lengthened or shortened, thereby regulating said loop to fit any size or shape of a horses mouth.

I claim as my invention- 1. As a new article of manufacture, a checkbit consisting of the mouthpieces A A, having, at their outer ends, upwardly-projecting levers B, B, terminating with rings or eyes E E, the inner ends of said mouthpieces being bent to form forwardly-projecting side bars G, G, connected in front by a curve H, the bars G, G, being arranged at right angles to the mouthpieces A, A, and the entire bit made of a single piece of wire, all as herein described, and for the purpose stated.

2. A check-bit consisting of the mouthpiece A A, loop G G H, screw-threaded levers B O, B G, and screw-threaded extensions D, D, engaged with said levers, the upper ends of said extensions being provided with eyes or rings E, E, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDMUND l3. REYNOLDS.

Witnesses JAMEs H. LAYMAN, ARTHUR Moons; 

